NHS fined over Dunkirk veteran who died after fall from hospital trolley

A RETIRED Army major fell to his death from a hospital trolley as NHS staff wheeled him for a hip X-ray.

Dunkirk veteran Major James Fyfe was 90 years old when he toppled off and broke his neck

Dunkirk veteran Major James Fyfe was 90 years old when he toppled off and broke his neck.

The NHS hospital trust responsible has been fined £200,000, although the judge then allowed it four years to pay after hearing it was already £29million in the red.

Glasgow-born Major Fyfe, who joined the army aged 17, had been attending the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a routine examination after it was thought he may have suffered a fractured hip.

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He was lying on a trolley which had not had the sides properly secured and subsequently fell.

At Reading Crown Court, the trust admitted a charge of breach of an employer of general duty, other than to an employee.

The incident occurred in March 2011 but Major Fyfe actually died a month later from pneumonia.

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The NHS hospital trust responsible has been fined £200,000

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Major Fyfe had been attending the hospital for a routine examination

We will never forget the 48 hours after his fall

A statement read by Major Fyfe’s daughter, Amanda Fyfe

A statement read by Major Fyfe’s daughter, Amanda Fyfe, stated: “We will never forget the 48 hours after his fall. His head was like a water melon popped open. He was in pain and moaning so much but nobody came to help him. We were left on our own and were terrified.

“My mum blames herself for allowing the ambulance to take him to hospital. We all blame ourselves but none of us are responsible for his death. We placed our trust in the hospital which failed in so many ways so many times over. It is important the trust admitted the guilt.”

Gordon Menzies, prosecuting at Reading Crown Court, said provision for training staff operating clinical equipment had been “poor”, with just one man responsible for the training of 3,500 staff.

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The incident occurred in March 2011 but Major Fyfe actually died a month later from pneumonia

He added: “The reality is that the trolley sides were insecure and any amount of pressure would have been enough to retract it to a down position. And that is exactly what happened.”

Sentencing the NHS Foundation Trust, Judge Morris said: “I am conscious of the implications of taking valuable resources out of the NHS Trust at a time when they are faced with ever increasing demands upon them. But this is a serious matter.”